New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents statewide. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate, and extract lost, injured, or distressed people from across New York State.

In 2022, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 359 search and rescue missions, extinguished 162 wildfires covering more than 1,300 acres, participated in 53 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate nearly 900 acres of land, and worked on cases that resulted in hundreds of tickets and arrests.

“With more people visiting State lands and enjoying New York's myriad, world-class outdoor recreational opportunities, DEC’s Forest Rangers are on the front lines to help visitors get outside responsibly and get home safely,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “Each day, these highly trained first responders are protecting irreplaceable natural resources and utilizing their expert knowledge of wildland fire suppression, wilderness first aid, land navigation, law enforcement, and technical rescue techniques to successfully execute critical missions for DEC and our countless local, state, and national partners.”

Village of Lowville 

Lewis County 

Public Outreach: On Dec. 12, Forest Ranger Evans participated in the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office’s “Shop with a Cop” event. Ranger Evans was joined by first responders from multiple Police and Fire Departments to help 28 children shop for the holidays. Local businesses, agencies, and individuals made this successful event possible with their donations.

Ranger Evans at Shop with a Cop in Lowville (two photos attached)

Town of Bath 

Steuben County 

Public Outreach: On Dec. 12, Forest Ranger Captain Wickens and Ranger Raffaldi-Smith participated in Steuben County’s “Shop with a Cop” event. The annual event is organized by Arbor Housing and Development, a not-for-profit organization that assists more than 500 individuals displaced by domestic violence every year. Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers, and other members of law enforcement shopped at multiple stores with more than 20 children who picked out gifts for themselves and their families. Once shopping was complete, everyone gathered at the local VFW for lunch and wrapped the gifts.

Captain Wickens at Shop with a Cop in Steuben County (photo attached)

Ranger Raffaldi-Smith demonstrates lights and sirens at Shop with a Cop (photo attached)

Town of Champlain 

Clinton County 

Wilderness Recovery: On Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m., U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a 31-year-old reported missing by her husband the previous day. On Dec. 13, nine Forest Rangers helped coordinate linear search assignments. Investigative efforts narrowed the primary search area to the Great Chazy River. On Dec. 14, 13 Forest Rangers worked with CBP Air and Marine Operations, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police (NYSP) Underwater Response Team, Clinton County Swiftwater Response Team, and the Champlain, Rouses Point and Mooers Volunteer fire departments. At 11 a.m., a Ranger air boat crew found the subject deceased upstream from the State Route 11 bridge. Rangers transported the subject to the Clinton County Coroner. Resources were clear at 2 p.m. NYSP is leading the investigation

Ranger air boat crew during Clinton County search (photo attached)

Inflatable rescue boat used during Clinton County search (photo attached)

Ranger air boat crew during Clinton County search (photo attached)

Town of Shandaken 

Ulster County 

Wilderness Rescue: On Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m., Forest Rangers Horn and Sweeney responded to a call for a lost hiker in the Slide Mountain Wilderness. Coordinates placed the 17-year-old from Youngsville between Slide and Cornell mountains, approximately three miles from the trailhead. Rangers worked with New York State Police and the Big Indian and Claryville fire departments. At 7:30 p.m., Rangers reached the subject, who was showing symptoms of mild hypothermia. He was in the middle of a two-night backpacking trip that started at the Giant Ledge trailhead with a planned meeting with family at the Slide Mountain trailhead. Due to the steep and rugged terrain, snow accumulation, rapidly dropping temperatures, and exhaustion, the hiker could not reach his planned destination. After warming the hiker with hot liquids, food, and hand and foot warmers, Rangers assisted the subject to the Slide Mountain trailhead where he was met by his family. Resources were clear at 2:30 a.m.

Rangers rescue subject in Slide Mountain Wilderness (three photos attached)

Town of Southampton 

Suffolk County 

Prescribed Burn: On Dec. 14, Forest Rangers Gallagher and Scott joined DEC Division of Lands and Forests staff, DEC volunteers, and staff from the Central Pine Barrens Commission and Brookhaven National Laboratory for a prescribed fire in the David A. Sarnoff Pine Barrens State Forest. Firefighters completed a successful burn of 17 burn piles. These controlled burns make the forest more resilient to the invasive pest southern pine beetle and help reduce fuel loads to better prevent fires that could impact nearby communities. Central Pine Barrens Commission staff created more than 250 piles for future prescribed burns.

Ranger Scott and DEC staff at prescribed fire in Sarnoff Pine Barrens State Forest (photo attached)

Prescribed fire in Sarnoff Pine Barrens State Forest (photo attached)

Village of Afton 

Chenango County 

Law Enforcement: On Dec. 16, while on patrol in Onondaga County, Forest Rangers received a call from Central Dispatch about an ATV in Melondy Hill State Forest. When Rangers found the ATV, hunters were walking back to the vehicle. Rangers issued two tickets for illegal use of a motor vehicle on State land. 

Illegal ATV use in Melondy Hill State Forest (photo attached)

Town of Milan 

Dutchess County 

Public Outreach: On Dec. 16, Forest Rangers Pries and Russo joined the Milan and Stanfordville fire departments for their annual holiday light parade. The parade concluded with a lap around Milan Town Hall.

Ranger trucks in Milan holiday light parade (photo attached)

Town of Hunter 

Greene County 

Wilderness Search: On Dec. 17 at 3 p.m., Greene County requested Forest Ranger assistance with the search for a missing 67-year-old hiking Kaaterskill High Peak. The hiker was last seen by his hiking partner before leaving to complete the peak. At 4 p.m., Rangers located the subject and walked him out to the trailhead.

Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC's Hike Smart NY, Adirondack Backcountry Information, and Catskill Backcountry Information webpages for more information.

If a person needs a Forest Ranger, whether it's for a search and rescue, to report a wildfire, or to report illegal activity on state lands and easements, they should call 833-NYS-RANGERS. If a person needs urgent assistance, they can call 911. To contact a Forest Ranger for information about a specific location, the DEC website has phone numbers for every Ranger listed by region: http://on.ny.gov/NYSForestRangerRoster